Winery Membership

Product Description

SCMWA offers two types of membership based on circumstance of wine production. A one time initiation fee of $200 is required for beginning the process of your membership. Once payment is made online you will be able to download the membership application and production report which you will send back to SCMWA for approval.

SCMWA REQUIREMENTS:

All new General Members as of September 1, 2007, and all Special Members:

Must produce a minimum of 100 cases or 10% of production, (whichever is greater), of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wine annually, or as allowed by the Board of Directors.

Must pour at least one Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wine (in the bottle or barrel sample) at all SCMWA events.

WINERY-MEMBERSHIP DUES STRUCTURE:

All Members will pay a base fee assessment of $800 annually. This fee covers the first 10 tons or 740 cases or 1650 gallons produced by the member’s winery label.

All Members producing over 10 tons per year will pay an assessment of $25 per ton for Grapes crushed starting at 11 tons thru 98 tons. The $25 per ton equals $0.34 per case or $0.15 per gallon in the production assessment. There will be a cap of $2200.00 on the production assessment.

Dues will be based on a three-year rolling average of each member’s annual production based on your annual “Grape Crush and Purchase Inquiry Crop Report”. This is the report that is filed with the State of California Food and Agriculture.

Winery Member agrees to provide an annual harvest production report.

Members will be allowed to choose a quarterly payment plan for the annual dues.

Winery to provide upon request, a copy of certificate of insurance; with Commercial General Liability and Liquor Liability, with SCMWA listed as co-insured, (for events).

General Membership

General Membership shall be open to those who own a commercial winery or grape brandy distillery in Santa Cruz County or the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation, and as allowed by the directors. Original members of the Association shall retain grandfathered rights unless they relocate outside Santa Cruz County or the Appellation. General Members, in good standing, shall be entitled to one vote on Association issues.

Special Membership

Special Membership shall be open to those who,(1) produce Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wines commercially at a general member’s facility, or (2) ) produce Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wines commercially outside the AVA boundaries, and as allowed by the directors. This membership category is conditional upon the continued production of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wines and shall terminate when this qualification is no longer met. Special members shall be subject to any change in requirements for membership in the association. Special Members in good standing shall have all the rights and privileges of General Members and shall be entitled to one vote on Association issues.

a. Initiation Fee

Each new member shall pay an initiation fee of two hundred ($200) dollars.

Each member shall pay annual dues as determined by the board of directors. Each member’s annual dues will be determined by that member’s annual production report. In order to maintain membership in good standing, all new members, as of September 1, 2007, and all Special Members must pour a Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wine (in the bottle or barrel sample) at SCMWA events.

b. Production Report

In order to effectively market the Santa Cruz Mountains and County AVAs and to be able to educate on behalf of our industry, it is essential to have accurate production figures to determine the quantity and value of our product. A statement of production quantity of Santa Cruz Mountains/County wines as well as total production of all wine from the most recent harvest is mandatory for renewing membership each year for all members and must accompany the annual dues payment. These figures are understood to be confidential. The purpose is to certify minimum production requirements of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wine for new members and total annual production for all members.

Each member shall pay such other dues and fees and assessments as voted by a majority of a quorum of members.